Learning with Simulations: Gaming, Virtual Worlds & Immersive Online Environments
A new type of interactive, web-based open-world experience has been growing in popularity over the past several years. These applications sometimes combine game elements with those of a simulation while setting the entire experience within a highly interactive social environment. The more game-oriented of these applications are known as MMORPG (Massively Mulitplayer Online Role Playing Games).
The other type of simulation is simply a virtual world in which people can interact with one another via avatars, which are virtual representations of the participants. By far, the most popular of these simulations is Second Life. Second Life must be downloaded and installed on a computer, but players interact through an internet connection.
Second Life consists of a world in which people can chat, build houses and other structures, participate in social activities and trade virtual property or real estate. In order to facilitate these transactions, a currency (known as Linden dollars, after the game's developer, Linden Labs) has been added to the game. Currency can be purchased with real-world money through a brokerage service offered by Linden Labs. Linden Dollars can be used to purchase virtual versions of clothing, property, accessories, vehicles, plants, animals, paintings and sculptures.
While the educational applications of these programs is still being explored, a few have already begun experimenting. Read below:
Learning with Simulations: Gaming, Virtual Worlds & Immersive Online Environments
A new type of interactive, web-based open-world experience has been growing in popularity over the past several years. These applications sometimes combine game elements with those of a simulation while setting the entire experience within a highly interactive social environment. The more game-oriented of these applications are known as MMORPG (Massively Mulitplayer Online Role Playing Games).
The other type of simulation is simply a virtual world in which people can interact with one another via avatars, which are virtual representations of the participants. By far, the most popular of these simulations is Second Life. Second Life must be downloaded and installed on a computer, but players interact through an internet connection.
Second Life consists of a world in which people can chat, build houses and other structures, participate in social activities and trade virtual property or real estate. In order to facilitate these transactions, a currency (known as Linden dollars, after the game's developer, Linden Labs) has been added to the game. Currency can be purchased with real-world money through a brokerage service offered by Linden Labs. Linden Dollars can be used to purchase virtual versions of clothing, property, accessories, vehicles, plants, animals, paintings and sculptures.
While the educational applications of these programs is still being explored, a few have already begun experimenting. Read below:
Second Life used for middle school science
This teacher received a grant to study the educational possibilities of Second Life. He took several months off work to spend time on Second Life.